The Surgical Outcomes Research Center is dedicated to providing information about our research programs as well as links to other resources in the spine outcomes field that may be of interest to members of the media, legislators and their staffs, policy makers, educators, and community organizations.

Media Requests

You may contact our Office of Media Relations and Public Affairs, or send an e-mail to Jianyi Nie.

To speak with the Center directly, please contact us at (443) 287-2880.

Press Releases

Swiss-cheese bones could be the cause of unexplained low back pain (2020)

Investigators have found that age-related changes in the cartilaginous tissue of the spine may lead to painful nerve growth. 

Aiming to predict recovery and tailor support for spine surgery patients (2019)

A Johns Hopkins team is using innovative methods to predict how patients will fare after surgery for spine degeneration and to tailor support for these patients during their recovery. This information may then help surgeons tailor support for these patients.

Telephone counseling: Less pain, more mobility after spine surgery (2018)

New research has found that patients who spend time on phone counseling sessions improve their engagement in physical therapy and improve outcomes among patients recovering from lumbar spine surgery.

#TomorrowsDiscoveries: Treating Back Pain (2017)

Patients who actively participate in physical therapy have less pain and fewer limitations. Dr. Richard Skolasky and his team are using telephone calls to support patients and increase their engagement to improve their recovery. 

Enhancing recovery after back surgery (2016)

“We know that patients play a critical role in their recovery after these procedures through their active engagement in rehabilitation programs. However, it can be challenging for physicians and other healthcare providers to provide support for patients to actively partake in these programs.”

Readmission Rates After Spine Surgery Higher for Blacks (2016)

Overall, African Americans were significantly more likely to have an in-hospital complication than were Caucasians [5.39% vs. 3.9%; p<0.001); there were no differences between Hispanics and Caucasians. The most common systemic complications were cardiac and respiratory. Also, Blacks had 39% higher odds of having an in-hospital complication than whites and this ratio persisted after adjusting for confounding variables.

North American Spine Society honors 30 diverse members for 30th Anniversary (2015)

Richard Skolasky was honored as one of 30 members selected from a diverse pool of clinicians and researchers by NASS as the society celebrates its 30th Anniversary.

Study: Phone Counseling Reduces Pain, Disability after Back Surgery (2015)

Research by Johns Hopkins scientists suggests that having a short series of phone conversations with trained counselors can substantially boost recovery and reduce pain in patients after spinal surgery. [hear audio podcast and podcast]

More Patient Input, Better Spine Outcomes (2014)

Not long ago, researchers measured spine surgery outcomes based on technical expertise, fusion rates, deformity correction and equipment failure. But that only told half the story, says health services researcher Richard Skolasky, an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and director of The Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Spine Outcomes Research Center. “Patients,” he says, “are the experts in their own experience.”

Survey Shows Spine Surgeons Need to Screen More Patients for Anxiety and Depression (2014)

In a report published in the April edition of the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques, a Johns Hopkins team says that only 10 percent of orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons follow professional guidelines recommending routine psychological screenings of patients prior to major surgery for severe back and leg pain.

Vertebral augmentation for spinal fractures offers greater patient survival and cost savings (2013)

A study of 69,000 Medicare patient records led by Johns Hopkins researchers shows that people with spine compression fractures who undergo operations to strengthen back bones with cement survive longer and have shorter overall hospital stays than those who stick with bed rest, pain control and physical therapy.

Questionnaire to help doctors predict if patients will stick to physical therapy (2012)

Patients’ responses to a simple questionnaire can reliably predict whether they will adhere to physical therapy after spine surgery, Johns Hopkins  researchers suggest in a new study. The findings could help physicians identify patients who might benefit from additional preoperative preparation to ensure they attend therapy sessions and follow through with prescribed exercise, which could greatly affect their long-term recovery.